UK

Thousands support call against using weedkiller

Paul Murphy
BBC news

BBC
Campaigner Katie Teakle organised the petition against North East Lincolnshire Council's use of the chemical glyphosate


A woman who started a petition about the use of chemical weedkillers has been supported by more than 26,000 signatures.

Katie Teackle, from Cleethorpes, set it up after becoming concerned about North East Lincolnshire Council's (NELC) use of glyphosate to kill weeds on roadside verges.

The chemical is a powerful herbicide that kills most plants, but there is concern about its wider impact on bird and insect populations.

The BBC has contacted NELC for comment.

A council worker sprays chemicals on to weeds at the base of a tree


According to The Local Democracy Reporting Service, the petition begins: “Where are all the bees, insects and birds? Chattering sparrows, soaring swallows? How many butterflies have you seen this year? When was the last time you saw a wasp?”

It lays blame for declining biodiversity at least in part at the door of “the widespread use of toxic weedkillers”.

Ms Teakle is hoping that the council will urgently review its use of glyphosate.

"You have to lead by example and local authorities are in a great position of power," she said.

"There is a very real issue here and the council is best-placed to lead by example."


James Elliot, also known as The Canoe River Cleaner, is concerned about the impact of glyphosate on the wider environment


As well as a phase-out of use of glyphosate in favour of non-chemical alternatives, the petition also calls for the council to work with Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN), which supports local authorities to become pesticide free.

The campaign is being supported by Grimsby-based environmental campaigner James Elliot, who is also known as The Canoe River Cleaner.

Mr Elliot is concerned about the impact chemicals may have on the insect life and wildlife in his local waterway The River Freshney.

"The numbers speak for themselves, I think it's resonated with people," he said.

Mr Elliot added that he is confident his local authority will act to reduce or phase-out the use of the weedkiller.

He said: "Obviously, we need the council to be on board because they are using glyphosate at the moment, but I think they will be."

 

Household recycling rates remain at 44% in the UK

27th September 2024

UK household recycling rates remained at 44% in 2022, the same rate as in 2021, according to new figures released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The recycling rate for waste from households increased in all UK countries in 2022 except England; England was 43.4%, 49.2% in Northern Ireland, 42.1% in Scotland, and 56.9% in Wales.

The UK generated 191.2 million tonnes of total waste in 2020, with England responsible for 85% (162.8 million tonnes) of the UK total.

In 2023, 64.8% of UK packaging waste was recycled, increasing from 62.4% in 2022.

Reacting to the figures, Julie Fourcade, Head of External Affairs at FCC Environment, said: “FCC Environment is deeply concerned by today’s announcement that the UK’s recycling rate has continued to flatline, with only 44% of household waste in England being recycled.

“This trend highlights that more needs to be done in terms of education, infrastructure, and regulation to ensure that we are diverting waste away from landfill and helping to foster a circular economy.”

The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management reaction

CIWM’s Director of Innovation and Technical Services Lee Marshall said: “The recycling rate in England has stagnated recently, which is disappointing.

“This is largely due to delays in rolling out Consistent Collections and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Had these reforms been implemented, we would already see new services in place which would be driving up recycling rates.

“Local authorities are working hard to maintain current recycling levels, but they urgently need funding through EPR and clarity on the final details of food waste collections to plan and deliver the necessary service changes.

“One of CIWM’s key asks of the new government is to prioritise the delivery of Consistent Collections and EPR.

“These latest figures support this call and underline the importance of swift action to ensure these critical policies are progressed without further delay.”

Key figures

UK biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) sent to landfill decreased to 6.3 million tonnes in 2022 from 6.7 million tonnes in 2021.

It is estimated that the UK generated 40.4 million tonnes of commercial and industrial (C&I) waste in 2020, of which 33.7 million tonnes (83%) was generated in England.

Defra estimates that the UK generated 59.4 million tonnes of non-hazardous construction and demolition (C&D) waste, of which 55.0 million tonnes was recovered, in 2020.

England generated 53.9 million tonnes of this waste, of which 50.3 million tonnes was recovered.

In 2022, England generated 63.0 million tonnes of non-hazardous C&D waste, of which 59.4 million tonnes was recovered.

Britain Has Highest Electricity Prices in the World

by Will Jones
27 September 2024


British companies are paying the highest electricity prices of anywhere in the developed world, official data have shown, after costs more than doubled in the past five years. The Telegraph has the details.

The cost of power for industrial businesses has jumped 124% in just five years, according to the Government’s figures, catapulting the U.K. to the top of international league tables.

It is now about 50% more expensive than in Germany and France, and four times as expensive as in the U.S.

The figures will fuel concerns about the future of U.K. industry amid warnings that high energy prices are crippling domestic manufacturers.

They underline the challenge facing Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, who wants industrial businesses to switch away from gas to electricity-powered processes.

Frank Aaskov, the Director of Energy at lobby group U.K. Steel, said: “High industrial electricity prices have for too long damaged the competitiveness of U.K. steelmaking, and many in the wider manufacturing sector will be feeling the same pressure our steel companies do.

“The Government should tackle steep electricity costs and make the U.K. a fruitful place to invest, while enabling growth and improving competitiveness.”

The electricity price paid by U.K. industrial users per kilowatt hour rose to 25.85p in 2023, the data show. That compares to 10.43p as recently as five years earlier and 8.89p a decade ago.

It also far outstripped European rivals and allies such as the U.S. and Canada. The equivalent price was 17.84p in France, 17.71p in Germany and 6.48p in the U.S.

Across all the 31 member countries of the International Energy Agency, which collates the data, the median price was 17.70p per kilowatt hour, with Britain’s price higher than any other country.

Retired police dog's life saved thanks to charity

Holly Phillips
BBC News

Submitted
Retired police dog Neo needed life-saving surgery


A retired police dog who needed life-saving surgery is now recovering after a charity stepped in to cover the costs of his emergency operation.

Nine-year-old German Shepherd Neo served with Humberside Police and was adopted by a fellow officer when he retired.

Earlier this month, he needed life-saving surgery after falling ill.

Neo's owner, Rob James, said he had "never seen such kindness and felt such relief" after Thin Blue Paw Foundation stepped in to pay the £4,000 bill.

Mr James, from Hornsea in East Yorkshire, was a firearms officer at the time he met Neo, who was handled by one of his best friends in the police force.

He adopted him in 2018 after he retired from police dog duties.

He said: “I knew Neo had been a successful and formidable working dog and felt my lifestyle would suit him well.

"I’ve kept German shepherds since the age of 12 and had lost one of my dogs just a few years earlier.

“Neo loves living in the countryside so he gets long walks and there are lots of places he can swim."

Submitted
Neo is recovering at home with owner Rob James and his family

Mr James was working on 8 September when his partner called him to say Neo was making strange noises and that he was trying but struggling to be sick.

While on his way to the vets, Mr James contacted Thin Blue Paw to see if they could help.

Neo was suffering from gastric torsion – where the stomach twists and fills with gas or fluid.

He needed surgery immediately to save his life and the charity, which supports working and retired police dogs, agreed to cover the costs.

“To my astonishment, the charity said it would step in and, in doing so, saved Neo’s life," Mr James said.

"I'm still beyond words.

“Neo is doing really well after his surgery. I find myself thinking a lot about how life might have turned out if the foundation hadn’t stepped in to help with the costs of this surgery.

"I'm so pleased he’s been given a chance."

He has now pledged to raise money for the charity to thank them for supporting him and Neo.

Thin Blue Paw Foundation trustee Kieran Stanbridge said: “We’re so pleased we were able to step in at Neo and Rob’s time of need, and that Neo is now back at home with his family recovering well.”

Thousands of seals making Thames Estuary their home


A seal rests on the banks of the Thames in Hammersmith in March 2021

Almost 600 harbour seals and 3,000 grey seals now live in the Thames Estuary, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), which runs London Zoo, has revealed.

Taking to the air and sea, ZSL conducted surveys by observing the seals from boats along the estuary and from RAF training flights above the coastline between Suffolk and Kent.

ZSL’s Hannah McCormick, who led the survey, said: “During the 2024 seal survey, we counted 431 harbour seals and 714 grey seals laying out on sandbanks along the Thames.

"By combining these with the number of seals estimated to stay in the water during the counts, we can estimate that there are a total of 599 harbour seals and 2,988 grey seals."
ZSL
Conversationist Hannah McCormick during the seal survey


“Seals are playful but shy creatures, so using a long-range lens to take photos from a distance allows us to maximise our counting accuracy while also minimising any disturbance – helping us build the strongest possible understanding of how these native species are faring in the Thames, and highlighting the importance of protecting this ecosystem.”

The count was completed over several days in August during the moulting season for the harbour seals.

Over the course of those weeks, the seals would have spent much of their day basking on the estuary’s sandbanks, making it easier for the survey team to spot them.

The Thames is home to both harbour and grey seals, although harbour seals are the only one of the two to breed in the area.

ZSL
Seals spotted on sandbanks during the survey in August


This year’s survey was consistent with results from the last few surveys, with 692 harbour seals and 3,134 grey seals having been estimated in 2021.

Ms McCormick explained: “We’ve seen UK seals make an incredible recovery from the early 2000s, when high rates of distemper virus led to steep declines in numbers.

"Results since 2018 suggest there has been a decline in harbour seals, which has also been seen in other harbour seal colonies in the east of England."


This seal kept returning to the banks in Hammersmith, west London, for a week in 2021 - prompting attention from residents


She added: "While the causes of these declines remain unknown, experts are investigating potential factors and by keeping a close eye on these changes.

"We will continue to build our knowledge of seals in the Thames while contributing to long-term regional and national data on seals.”

A ZSL-led report previously revealed that although the Thames was declared "biologically dead" in1957, conservation efforts had led to it once again becoming home to a wide variety of British wildlife including seals, seahorses and critically endangered eels.

29,000 gambling ads in Premier League weekend, says research

Image source,Getty ImagesImage caption,
West Ham's match against Aston Villa contained close to 6,500 gambling messages, the researchers found

Natalie Pirks

Sports Correspondent

Tom Grundy

BBC Sport senior journalist

Publishe

The number of betting adverts during the opening weekend of the Premier League season almost trebled compared to last year, new research says.

Researchers analysed Premier League coverage in the UK across TV - including pitchside hoardings and shirt logos - as well as radio and social media.

They counted more than 29,000 gambling messages, a 165% increase on the opening weekend a year ago.

West Ham's match against Aston Villa contained close to 6,500 gambling messages - about 30 every minute.

The authors of the report - the University of Bristol business school, funded by a grant from the charity Gamble Aware - has called the industry's attempt to self-regulate "wholly inadequate and tokenistic".

They say their report shows fans and children are being put at risk because they are being exposed to gambling advertising.

The Betting and Gaming Council, which represents the gambling industry, criticised the research, saying it "fundamentally misunderstands both advertising, and the way in which it is strictly regulated".

But Peter Shilton, England's most capped male footballer and a former gambling addict, told the BBC the gambling industry is "out of control and can't regulate itself", and called for government action.

"Just a few months ago, a new code of conduct was published by the industry, external to curb marketing during football events, but the policy has had no impact on the volume whatsoever," said co-lead author Dr Raffaello Rossi.

"It’s clear that the industry's attempt to self-regulate is wholly inadequate and tokenistic. Despite having had years to put in place effective measures to protect consumers, the gambling industry continues to prioritise profit over safety."

The Premier League is working with its clubs on the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Gambling Related Agreements in Football, which was introduced at the start of this season.

Its clubs are required to adhere to all legal and regulatory requirements, via the Gambling Commission and the Advertising Standards Authority.

Former England goalkeeper Shilton, 75, had a gambling addiction for 45 years until seeking help about 10 years ago.

He says the new research "just shows [the gambling industry is] out of control". He added: "They can't regulate themselves, and it doesn't look as though anybody else is bothering to regulate them. It's another year gone by when you know it's got worse.

"We managed to get a start with the Premier League banning [sponsorship] on the front of shirts, but that was only just a small part of it.

"It's time now that the government step in and do something about it because it's been going on for so long now."

A government spokesperson said: "We recognise the impact harmful gambling can have on individuals and their families and are absolutely committed to strengthening protections for those at risk.

"Ministers are currently considering the full range of gambling policy, including on advertising and sponsorship, and will update in due course."

Last year, the Premier League clubs collectively agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship from the front of clubs’ matchday shirts, starting from the end of the 2025-26 season.

How has the gambling industry responded?

The Betting and Gaming Council responded by saying that its members "take a zero tolerance approach to betting by children" and have introduced new age gating rules.

It adds that they commit 20% of TV, radio and digital advertising to safer gambling messaging, and provide funding to the UK's most popular sports, including £40m each year to the English Football League.

A BGC spokesperson said: "This research fundamentally misunderstands both advertising, and the way in which it is strictly regulated, while making a series of statements which are either misleading or incorrect.

“Betting advertising and sponsorship must comply with strict guidelines and safer gambling tools and signposts to help for those concerned about their betting, are regularly and prominently displayed."

Portugal’s  Government-backed

4-day week trial leads to 90% 

of companies  reducing their 

workers’ hours

15 July 2024

The study was jointly conducted by Birkbeck, University of London, Henley Business School, University of Reading, and the international non-profit organisation, 4 Day Week Global.

A 4-day week leads to a better balance between work, family and personal life, according to a government-funded 4-day week pilot program with over 1,000 workers in Portugal.

The research, jointly conducted by Birkbeck, University of London, and Henley Business School, University of Reading, and the international non-profit organisation, 4 Day Week Global, reported that the percentage of workers who struggled with balancing work and personal life fell from 50% to 16%, and 93% of workers wanted to continue with the work time reduction. A significant improvement in mental and physical health was seen in workers who took part in the trial, compared to the control group who didn’t have their working hours changed. Only four companies out of 41 involved in the trial returned to a 5-day week at the end of the trial, after reporting operational and employee performance improvements.  

Research coordinator Prof Pedro Gomes, Professor of Economics at Birkbeck, University of London said: “This pilot has shown us that the 4-day working week is a legitimate management practice with many benefits for firms and workers. For firms, it can solve concrete problems they are facing today, including recruitment and retention problems, high levels of stress and burnout, gender inequality, absenteeism, and difficulties in managing hybrid working. But for it to be successful for firms, they must use the 4-day week to make changes in the way they organize work, by adopting new technology and implementing best time-management practices. The advantage is that they can count on the support and commitment of workers in those changes. We hope our work documenting how companies in Portugal designed a test that positively impacted workers can encourage and help other companies considering moving to a 4-day week." 

Research coordinator Dr. Rita Fontinha, Associate Professor of Strategic Human Resources at Henley Business School said: "Like in other international trials, a work time reduction in the format of a 4-day week has a tremendous effect on workers well-being and work-life balance. As such, they value this benefit as if it represented 28% of their wage on average. As expected, women attribute a higher value to the four-day week. Perhaps the most surprising finding is that the 4-day week is more valued by low earners and workers without a higher degree, who have less flexibility in managing their working hours and fewer resources to buy services to free their time." 

Companies adopted the four-day workweek in different formats and implemented various organisational changes. In 51% of companies, workers had one day off per week, while 49% of companies opted for a nine-day fortnight. Consulting, Science, and Technology were the most represented sectors in the study.  

Before the pilot project, workers worked 41.6 hours (including overtime), and during the pilot, they worked 36.5 hours, a reduction of 12%. Of those participating in the trial, 67% of the workers were female, 55% were under 40 years old, and 79% had a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree. 

Further Information

• Read the final report in English
• Read the final report in Portuguese 

More news about:

• Birkbeck Business School
• Corporate website
• Faculty of Business and Law

UK surpasses £4bn in investment on new nuclear subs

PAID FOR BY PENSIONERS WINTER FUEL ALLOWANCE CUT

By Lisa West
- September 26, 2024

In a joint statement released on 26th September 2024, the UK, US, and Australia reaffirmed their deep commitment to the AUKUS trilateral partnership during a high-level meeting at the Old Royal Naval College in London.

The defence ministers of the three nations gathered to review progress on their joint efforts to bolster regional security in the Indo-Pacific, focusing on the development of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines under the SSN-AUKUS programme.

One of the key highlights from the meeting was the UK’s decision to surpass its original commitment by pledging £4 billion towards the SSN-AUKUS project, significantly enhancing its investment to support the detailed design work and the procurement of long-lead items necessary to meet the delivery timeline.

This comes as part of a larger strategy aimed at ensuring a robust and continuous build-up of submarine capabilities for the Royal Navy and its allies over the coming decades.

This financial contribution will also support the UK’s Defence Nuclear Enterprise, where £3 billion has been allocated to enhance submarine industrial infrastructure, ensuring the success of the long-term plan to develop conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. This investment aligns with the UK’s broader strategy to remain at the forefront of advanced military technology and maintain its leadership role in the Indo-Pacific region.

The US, for its part, has committed USD 17.5 billion to its submarine industrial base, focusing on supplier development, shipbuilder and supplier infrastructure, workforce development, and technology advancements. According to the statement, this substantial investment will “support initiatives related to supplier development, shipbuilder and supplier infrastructure, workforce development, technology advancements, and strategic sourcing,” strengthening the US’s ability to deliver the advanced submarine capabilities required for the SSN-AUKUS programme.

Australia, meanwhile, is making a significant investment of over AUD 30 billion to enhance its own defence industrial base and ensure that it can sustain the high demand for skilled personnel and robust supply chains needed to support the submarines’ long-term operational capabilities. The Australian government has launched several initiatives to build a skilled workforce, including postgraduate scholarships and the “Jobs for Subs” initiative to recruit, train, and retain additional graduates and apprentices to support Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) in Western Australia.

The joint statement emphasised the strategic importance of these investments, noting that the three nations are committed to maintaining the highest standards of nuclear non-proliferation and fostering collaboration across their industrial bases. The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to “uphold the global rules-based order where international law is followed, and states can make sovereign choices free from coercion.”

 

Photo appearing to show elder on hospital floor in Thunder Bay, Ont., raises concerns about Indigenous care

CMA recently apologized for discrimination of First Nations, Inuit, Métis patients and health-care providers

Sarah Law · CBC News · Posted: Sep 27, 2024 2:00 AM MDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) as shown in a 2023 file photo. A photo posted recently on social media appears to show an Indigenous elder lying in the hallway of the hospital. (Marc Doucette/CBC)

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A photo that appears to show an Indigenous elder lying in the hallway of a Thunder Bay, Ont., hospital is raising concerns about the region's health-care system and treatment of Indigenous patients.

A copy of the image, which was posted online earlier this month but has since been removed, has been obtained by CBC News. The family of the patient involved has asked for privacy as they focus on caring for their loved one. CBC News has chosen not to include the photo in this story out of respect for the family.

CBC News cannot independently verify what happened to the patient. The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) "is unable to comment on patient-specific situations due to patient privacy legislation," says an emailed statement from spokesperson Marcello Bernardo.

Earlier this month, the Canadian Medical Association issued a public apology for harms to First Nations, Inuit and Métis patients and health-care providers across the country.

"Indigenous people enter the health-care system expecting the worst, and I think that's sort of what this [Thunder Bay] case illustrates, unfortunately," said Dr. Alexa Lesperance, an Anishinaabe family physician and vice-president of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada.

"I think of how many stories similar to this go uncaptured because of shame or stigma or because of violence that Indigenous people experience on the daily."

Hospital, Ministry of Health respond

When asked about TBRHSC's policies around bed shortages, Bernardo said the hospital "provides assessments based on individual illness severity, injury emergence and acuity scores" to determine which patients are seen first.

As for cultural support, he spoke of the hospital's Indigenous care co-ordinators (ICC), who help Indigenous patients navigate services and advocate for appropriate care.

"For all patients, unfortunately at times they must wait until treatment providers are available and we can appreciate that waiting even a short period can be difficult for people," said Bernardo.

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre 'provides assessments based on individual illness severity, injury emergence and acuity scores” to determine which patients are seen first, says a spokesperson. (Marc Doucette/CBC)

"TBRHSC is continuously working internally, with partners, and with [the Ministry of Health] to find the resources to always be improving care for our patients from across northwestern Ontario."

CBC News also reached out to the ministry. In an emailed statement, the ministry said it can't comment on specific patient cases. However, spokesperson W.D. Lighthall said all hospitals must have a process for patients and caregivers to voice concerns.

Regarding bed shortages, "we are getting shovels in the ground for over 50 hospital development projects across the province, building on the over 3,500 hospital beds we have added since 2020," said Lighthall.

Health Minister Sylvia Jones announces funding for 34 beds at the TBRHSC in this October photo. (Marc Doucette/CBC)

"This includes an addition of 34 beds at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as Minister [Sylvia] Jones and MPP [Kevin] Holland announced last year."

The ministry did not say whether those 34 beds are already in place.

First Nations, Inuit and Métis patients and caregivers can also access the Early Resolution Specialist – Indigenous Experiences program through the patient ombudsman, said Lighthall, adding the program aims to help them resolve concerns and file formal complaints.

• Controversial law designed to free up hospital beds to be tested in Ontario court

• CMA apologizes for harms to First Nation, Inuit and Métis Peoples

Thunder Bay—Superior North MPP Lise Vaugeois told CBC News she is concerned about Ontario's health-care funding and money being diverted from the public system into private care.

Earlier this month, she attended a virtual town hall meeting by the Ontario Medical Association to address concerns about wait times and doctor shortages in the north.

"People are very, very stressed and worried about the health-care system, that they're waiting too long to get services," Vaugeois told CBC News upon seeing the photo. "The image of this elder really … represents in a very tangible way the fact that our system is not able to keep up with people's needs."

Failures of 'colonial health-care system'

In response to the photo, Grand Council Treaty #3 issued a statement saying it was "deeply concerned" about the patient, who was identified as a member of Treaty #3.

"This incident highlights an unacceptable approach to care by TBRHSC and is reflective of the ongoing failure of the colonial health-care system to uphold our treaty right to health and well-being," the statement said.

Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa says he wants to see more investments in health care within northern First Nations so patients don't always have to travel to urban centres for treatment. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

People from dozens of remote First Nations travel to Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay for medical care. Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa, who is from Kingfisher Lake First Nation, said he wants to see better care closer to home.

"The nurses, the physicians do not have the tools to be able to properly assess, treat the people in the north," Mamakwa said, describing how communities have outgrown their nursing stations.

"We don't have paramedics up north, nothing. Those are some of the basic things that we do not have that everybody in Ontario, across Canada has, but we don't."

Dr. Alexa Lesperance, an Anishinaabe family physician and vice-president of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, says Indigenous patients tend to expect poor treatment due to the history of discrimination within the health-care system. (Submitted by Alexa Lesperance)

Lesperance, who grew up in Whitefish Bay and is a member of Rocky Bay First Nation in northwestern Ontario, said the CMA's acknowledgment of discrimination in the health-care system is a good first step.

However, it must be followed by actions — such as more cultural safety training and real-time reporting of discrimination that can be held publicly accountable. 

• In Depth
  Inquest for First Nation woman yields 42 recommendations to improve remote health care

• Number of Ontarians without family doctor reaches 2.5 million, college says

"What I didn't hear once in the CMA's official response are terms like white privilege, white fragility, white supremacy," Lesperance said. "Medical violence is entrenched in white supremacy.

"I do think non-Indigenous people need to be central to dismantling white supremacy, and that work can't come off the backs of racialized patients or physicians who are trying to survive within a system not intended for them and [that] continue to be harmed by its effect."

BRICS should contribute to multi-polar world: Chinese FM

 27-Sep-2024
CGTN


Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses a meeting of foreign ministers of BRICS countries in New York, U.S., September 26, 2024. /Chinese Foreign Ministry


Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the need for BRICS countries to foster a multi-polar world and economic globalization that benefits all. Speaking on Friday at a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers, Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, highlighted the importance of common security to achieve lasting peace. He stressed that no country has the right to control the global security agenda or build its own security at the expense of others.

Wang also urged BRICS nations to prioritize development, focusing on poverty reduction, development financing, energy, and food security for developing countries. He called for BRICS to seize opportunities presented by the technological revolution and industrial transformation.

Wang underscored the need to practice multilateralism and improve global governance, advocating for greater participation of Global South countries in international decision-making processes. He also stressed the importance of enhancing their voice and representation in global institutions.

Later the same day, at a meeting between the Committee of Ten (C10) Heads of State and Government on UN Security Council Reform and foreign ministers of the five permanent UN Security Council members, Wang called for increased representation of developing countries, particularly through special arrangements for Africa.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency

‘Asian NATO’ supporter Ishiba to become Japan’s prime minister

Shigeru Ishiba said Japan needs to play a ‘great role’ in its alliance with the US.

By Taejun Kang for RFA
2024.09.27
Taipei, Taiwan

Former Japanese defense minister Shigeru Ishiba waves as he is elected as new head of the ruling party in the Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership vote and is set to become Japan’s next prime minister in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 27, 2024. Kyodo/via Reuters

Veteran Japanese lawmaker Shigeru Ishiba, who supports the creation of an “Asia version of NATO”, was set on Friday to become prime minister after winning a closely fought contest to lead the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Since the LDP holds a parliamentary majority, the next party leader will  replace Fumio Kishida as prime minister. Kishida  announced his intention to step down in August. 

“We must believe in the people, speak the truth with courage and sincerity, and work together to make Japan a safe and secure country where everyone can live with a smile once again,” Ishiba said in a brief speech to lawmakers after the party vote.

The LDP chose Ishiba as Japan grapples with increasing security threats and risk of war in the region, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and China’s growing military assertiveness.

The 67-year-old Ishiba, who said changes in the security environment were the reason he announced his candidacy, has been strong on deterrence.

The former defense minister expressed his desire to create an “Asian version of NATO” and bring equality to the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement.

“Ukraine is not a member of NATO. It is not hard to imagine that this prompted President [Vladimir] Putin’s decision,” he said, stressing the need to build a collective security system in Asia, at a news conference on Sept. 10, referring to the Russian leader’s decision to send troops into Ukraine.

Shigeru Ishiba celebrates after he was elected as new head of Japan's ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan. (Hiro Komae/Pool via Reuters)

While Ishiba does not question the importance of the security alliance with the U.S., he has said Japan needs to play a greater role in the alliance and have a larger say in how American troops are deployed in Japan. 

For instance, he wrote in his 2024 memoir that “Japan is still not a truly independent country” because of the “asymmetry” of its dependence on America for its security.

Ishiba also announced he would consider revising the SOFA, or Status of Forces Agreement, which sets the rules for U.S. military operations in Japan. The agreement was concluded when the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty was revised in 1960 and has remained unchanged.

Ishiba said that as LDP president, and thus prime minister, he would seek to establish a base in the U.S. to train Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.

He argued that SOFA should be at the same level as an agreement that would be established upon the creation of such an SDF base in the U.S.

“If we are going to revise SOFA, it has to be something that will strengthen the alliance and improve the regional security environment,” said Ishiba. 

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Ishiba is known as a strong backer of Taiwanese democracy while also calling for deeper engagement with China.

He wrote in his memoir that conflating the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a possible Chinese attack on Taiwan was driven by emotion, not a pragmatic assessment of Chinese threats and the impact on Japan.

The nail-biter party election consisted of two rounds. In the first round, the  368 LDP members in the legislature and 368 rank-and-file members cast  ballots. In a second runoff round between the top two candidates, 415 votes were cast.

Ishiba came second, after economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, in the first round but he beat Takaichi in the runoff by 21 votes.

“I want to protect Japan, protect the people, protect the local regions, and want to be the LDP that follows the rules,” Ishiba said after the first vote.

He will be officially announced as prime minister at a special legislative session on Oct. 1.

Edited by Mike Firn.

Shigeru Ishiba is chosen as Japan's next prime minister after winning leadership vote of ruling LDP party

By North Asia correspondent James Oaten in Tokyo

Former Japanese defence minister Shigeru Ishiba accepts the top job following the party vote. (Kyodo via Reuters)

Japan's next prime minister will be maverick regional politician Shigeru Ishiba after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elected him the new leader following the news Prime Minister Fumio Kishida would step down.

Mr Ishiba, a veteran politician and former defence minister, won the top job after a runoff against Sanae Takaichi in an internal ballot after none of the original nine hopefuls won enough support to win the ballot outright.

Had Ms Takaichi won, she would have become Japan's first female prime minister.

The vote was sparked after Mr Kishida announced he would no longer seek the top job at the scheduled party meeting, following months of low approval ratings and a donations scandal that embroiled high-ranking politicians.

Shigeru Ishiba won the leadership vote in a runoff election for the Liberal Democratic Party. (Hiro Komae via Reuters)

Before the final vote among LDP politicians, Mr Ishiba vowed to clean up the party's image.

"We will put an end to the widespread distrust in the LDP," he said.


"Once the election is over, we will put our hearts into protecting Japan, local areas, rules and the people of Japan."

Mr Ishiba, 67, has tried and failed to secure the top job many times.

He is known as a maverick, speaking against the party when he feels necessary, which has made him popular among voters.

"He appears on television media quite a lot to give very frank and honest opinions, including criticism of his own government, and that has made him popular with voters," said Jeff Hall, an expert in politics at Kanda University.

Shigeru Ishiba acknowledged his win after he was elected as new head of Japan's ruling LDP party. (Hiro Komae via Reuters)

He hails from a regional part of Japan suffering population decline and has spoken about the need to help all of Japan, and not just the big cities.

"He has this sort of idealistic focus on helping every part of Japan, and he is also very much a policy expert-kind of politician.

"He loves to talk about defence policy, natural disaster relief policies."

But his criticism of the party, including leaving the LDP before, has hurt him in the past, with some fellow LDP members calling him a traitor.
Ishiba beat out would-be first female PM

Mr Ishiba beat out Ms Takaichi, 63, the economic security minister and a hardline conservative who has praised Margaret Thatcher as a role model.

A protege of former prime minister, the late Shinzo Abe, Ms Takaichi talked about stimulating the economy and maintaining ultra-low interest rates.

But there was concern her conservative views were out of line with the electorate.

"She's extremely conservative on social views, far to the right of most Japanese voters, on things like gender, on same-sex marriage, on the issue of whether or not women should be allowed to have a separate family name when they get married," Mr Hall said.

Sanae Takaichi would have been Japan's first female prime minister. (Hiro Komae via Reuters)

She also advocated visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, which honours Japan's war dead, including convicted war criminals.

Her position would infuriate China and South Korea, a country Japan has tried to build relations with.

"She is also very, very hawkish towards China," Mr Hall said.

One of the initial frontrunners in the race was Shinjiro Koizumi, son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi.

At 42, Mr Koizumi would have become Japan's youngest prime minister were he successful, but a series of gaffs led many to conclude he was too inexperienced.


"He thinks he can be the Japanese Trudeau, and he's young, he's handsome," Mr Hall said.

"There are a lot of jokes and memes that depict him as an air-headed person who doesn't really have much substance to him."


Japanese former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the 43-year-old son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, speaks at a press conference ahead of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, September 6, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (Reuters: Kim Kyung-Hoon)
How the votes were counted

The LDP leadership is elected from a 50-50 split between party members, of which there are just under 1.1 million, and its 368 members of parliament, the Diet.

If no candidate wins enough support from the initial vote, a runoff is held that is only open to the members of parliament.

This means a politician less popular with the public can be elected, as factional heads will get the ultimate say.

"Kishida was a classic example of a leader selected not because of his appeal to voters, but because factions within his party wanted to block another politician from becoming PM," said Mr Hall.


Officials show the result of the first voting to election commission at the leadership election. (Hiro Komae via Reuters)

In this runoff, Ms Takaichi was more popular in the initial vote, achieving 72 votes from Diet members while Mr Ishiba won 46.

But among party members, the vote was much closer, with Ms Takaichi beating her rival by one vote.
Snap election expected

Japan's political system is renowned for its relatively high rotation of prime ministers, yet one where the electorate continues to re-elect the same political party.

The LDP has ruled Japan almost uninterrupted in its post-war years.

It lost majority for only a few months in 1993 and was out of government between 2009 and 2013, losing to the centre-left Democratic Party of Japan.

But those years were marred by internal fighting and the the centre-left party failed to deliver on key policies, prompting voters to return the LDP, viewing them as the more experienced party to run the country.

In recent years, the government has been riddled with scandal. The most explosive were revelations senior members of government failed for years to declare donations.

While Mr Kishida wasn't directly involved in the donations scandal, voters saw him as unable to fix the problem, and his voter approval ratings tanked.


Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (centre) announced he would no longer seek the top job after months of low approval ratings and a donations scandal. (Hiro Komae via Reuters)

Despite this, the LDP is still expected to win the next general election.

"The LDP, at least, has the experienced people and the know-how to run a government without messing things up, at least in an opinion of many people," Mr Hall said.

"The various scandals of the LDP are, of course, abhorrent, and people are very annoyed by them, but a lot of them are petty corruption scandals and various other scandals that don't cause the country to grind to a halt, or they don't involve breaking major promises to voters."

The main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, has appointed former prime minister Yoshihiko Noda as its leader, to try and unite the opposition forces and appear as a reliable pair of hands.

Mr Ishiba is expected to call a snap election, meaning Japan will be returning to the polls in late October or November.

Shigeru Ishiba: the outsider set to become Japan's next Prime Minister

During the LDP leadership campaign, he called for Japan to lead the creation of an 'Asian NATO', an idea quickly rejected by Washington as too hasty

Reuters Tokyo Published 27.09.24, 

Japan's next prime minister Shigeru Ishiba says he reads three books a day and would rather do that than mingle with the ruling party colleagues who picked him as their new leader on Friday.

16Shigeru Ishiba acknowledges after he was elected as new head of Japan's ruling LDP party at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (Reuters)

The 67-year-old's successful leadership bid after four failed attempts puts the self-confessed lone wolf at the helm of a Liberal Democratic Party that has ruled Japan for most of the past seven decades.

Ishiba takes over with the party in crisis, having seen its public support ebb away over the past two years with revelations of links to a church branded a cult by critics and a scandal over unrecorded donations.

26Shigeru Ishiba speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (Reuters)


A former defence minister who entered parliament in 1986 after a short banking career, Ishiba was sidelined by outgoing prime minister, Fumio Kishida, becoming instead a dissenting voice in the party.


He has rebelled on policies including the increased use of nuclear energy and has criticised his party for not allowing married couples to use separate surnames.


"I consider this my final battle," Ishiba said last month when he launched his campaign at a Shinto shrine in rural Tottori prefecture, where his father was governor and where Ishiba began his political career at the height of Japan's fast growing bubble economy.


"I will bring back a vibrant Japan where people can live with a smile."

36Shigeru Ishiba speaks before a runoff election at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (Reuters)


Ishiba, who has also served as agriculture minister, promised to move some ministries and government agencies out of Tokyo to help revive Japan's moribund regions. He has also proposed establishing an agency to oversee the construction of emergency shelters across disaster-prone Japan.


Friction


But his outspoken views, including calls for Fumio and other prime ministers to step down, have earned him enemies in the LDP.


That enmity, which also stems from a four-year defection to an opposition group in 1993, made it difficult for Ishiba to win the 20 nominations he needed from fellow lawmakers to qualify as a candidate in the election on Friday.

46One of candidates Shigeru Ishiba casts his ballot at the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Tokyo. (Reuters)


After a first round of voting put him through to a run-off with economic security minster Sanae Takaichi, Ishiba acknowledged that his refusal to compromise has caused issues with his colleagues.


"I have undoubtedly hurt many people's feelings, caused unpleasant experiences, and made many suffer. I sincerely apologize for all of my shortcomings," he said in an address to LDP lawmakers who gathered at party headquarters for the election.


His lack of popularity among lawmakers means that Ishiba has had to rely on the support he has nurtured among rank-and-file members over his four decades in politics.


He has stayed in the public eye during his time away from government with media appearances, social media posts and on YouTube, where he muses on topics ranging from Japan's falling birthrate to ramen noodles.


He also pokes fun at himself, including his sometimes-awkward manner and hobbies including plastic models of ships and military aircraft, some of which he displays on the bookshelves that line his parliamentary office in Tokyo.

56Former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba, a candidate for Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) presidential election, speaks during a debate at the Nixon Kisha Club in Tokyo, Japan. September 14, 2024. (Reuters)


U.S. Diplomacy


Seen as an LDP intellectual heavyweight and expert on national security policy, he advocates for a more assertive Japan that can reduce its reliance on longtime ally, the U.S., for its defence.


That position, analysts say, could complicate relations with Washington.


During the LDP leadership campaign, he called for Japan to lead the creation of an "Asian NATO", an idea quickly rejected by Washington as too hasty.


In Okinawa where most of the U.S. troops in Japan are concentrated, he said he would seek greater oversight of the bases they use. He also wants Washington to give Japan a say in how it would use nuclear weapons in Asia.


In an interview with Reuters, Ishiba also criticized the U.S. political backlash to Nippon Steel's bid for U.S. Steel, saying it unfairly cast Japan as a national security risk. Kishida has avoided making comments on the issue ahead of the U.S. presidential election.

66Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, a candidate of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election, speaks during a joint press conference at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, September 13, 2024. (Reuters)


Policy shifts


Ishiba has, however, softened some policy positions that have put him at odds with party colleagues, most notably saying he would keep some reactors operating in Japan, despite his past opposition to nuclear power and support for renewable energy sources.


A fiscal conservative who has promised to respect the independence of the Bank of Japan to set monetary policy, he has more recently said it is unclear whether conditions were right for a fresh hike in interest rates.


"Politicians don't need to be best friends, as long as their policies and political positions match," Ishiba said in a video posted on YouTube this week

What Japan’s Next Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Means for the World

Former Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers a speech before a runoff in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election to choose the successor to outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, at the party’s headquarters in Tokyo, Sept. 27, 2024.Kyodo/AP

By Charlie Campbell

TIME
September 27, 2024 


Ishiba Shigeru is set to become Japan’s new Prime Minister after winning the presidency of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in a ballot of party lawmakers and members on Friday afternoon.

A plain-spoken populist and former defense minister who gained the LDP’s leadership on his fifth attempt—what he called his “final battle”—Ishiba, 67, emerged triumphant from a nine-strong field on promises to revitalize rural areas and win back public trust after a slew of scandals led to the stepping down of outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Ishiba will assume the nation’s top job on Oct. 1 following a rubber-stamp parliamentary vote.


“Prime Minister Kishida has made a decision to let the LDP be reborn and win back the public's trust,” Ishiba said in his victory speech. “We must all pull together to respond to this.”

Ishiba’s leadership of the East Asian nation of 125 million has implications for global security given Japan’s increasingly prominent role alongside the U.S. checking China’s assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific. Under the outgoing Kishida, who announced he wouldn’t seek reelection last month amid plummeting popularity, Japan has beefed up defense spending and healed historical wounds with South Korea, another key regional U.S. ally.

A Tokyo native, Ishiba has both establishment and rebel credentials. He briefly worked in banking before embarking on his own political career following the death of his father, who was himself a lawmaker and cabinet member. He’s seen as distant from the right-wing faction of the party centered around the late Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister who was murdered in 2022, having reportedly turned down several cabinet posts under him.

That distance likely proved key in Ishiba’s victory. LDP elders recognized the need for change following public opprobrium regarding the Abe faction’s ties to the controversial Unification Church as well as the misuse of political funds. “Distrust grew in the Kishida administration because he didn’t really deal with the financial scandals of the LDP factions,” says Mieko Nakabayashi, a professor at Tokyo’s Waseda University and a former Japanese lawmaker.

Ishiba’s popularity was bolstered by his outspokenness on the need to properly investigate any malfeasance and for reforms to regain public confidence. Having previously served as agriculture minister and rural revitalization minister, Ishiba’s economic agenda focuses on revitalizing Japan’s outlying regions.

“He has the most credibility as somebody who understands the pain of the people,” says Jeff Kingston, director of Asian studies at Tokyo’s Temple University. “But he’s a blunt-spoken guy who doesn’t suffer fools easily, and many of his colleagues fit that bill. So he can seem arrogant and condescending to his fellow lawmakers.”

As a result, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Ishiba’s support lay more with LDP’s broad membership than fellow lawmakers, many of whom still regard him as a traitor for switching parties for several years in the 1990s. He was also the most populist of the main challengers and known for flip-flopping on various issues depending on public mood, including nuclear energy and whether a woman could serve as Emperor.

“There are many cases when he has changed his stance, so he is sometimes regarded as a weak leader who does not have really strong principles,” says Hosoya Yuichi, a professor of international politics at Keio University in Tokyo. “But at the same time, he is regarded as an experienced, reliable politician.”

Ishiba is one of only two of the leadership candidates who doesn’t speak English—remarkably, four of the nine were Harvard-educated—and is seen as a more conservative choice than his two closest challengers, who would have been either Japan’s youngest or first female leader. (The latter, Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, was ahead on the first-round vote but was defeated by Ishiba in a runoff.)

Yet Ishiba also has a distinct maverick streak. He is one of the few LDP politicians to acknowledge Japanese mistakes in its 1910-45 colonization of Korea, which promises warmer ties with Seoul, though he has also openly called for the establishment of an Asian version of NATO, which may put him on collision course with Beijing.

Regarding U.S. ties, Ishiba has alarmed some by calling for a rebalancing of defense arrangements, with Japan taking more control and responsibility for its own security. He has a reputation as a security hardliner who is fond of building and painting models of aircraft and ships, which reportedly line his office walls, and he has previously voiced support for Japan developing its own nuclear deterrent. However, it’s unlikely he would deviate far from the U.S.-led orthodoxy. U.S. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel congratulated Ishiba in a post on X and said he looks forward to working with him to “cultivate even closer” U.S.-Japan ties.

“We will put our hearts into protecting Japan, local areas, rules, and the people of Japan,” Ishiba said Friday.